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Post by fujicolt on Aug 23, 2010 0:28:23 GMT
Hey all - I have over the years come across info and processes that - although not connected to Karate - have helped me immensely in developing the way i teach and practice Karate - taking my Pilots licence being a massive one.
Have you had similar experiences that we could all share and learn from.
i will of course expand on my PPL experience for you all but it would be more like an article than a post so please be patient..
thanks in advance.
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Post by jimlukelkc on Aug 28, 2010 13:09:33 GMT
I worked as both a youth worker and with autistic adults and found that having to find ways of engaging with kids and also alternative ways of communicating have given me fresh perspectives. I also found that working with people who have disabilities, I found that , as with able bodied people, I did not necessarily like all of them but they all needed my help. That has given me the ability to teach, regardless of personalities, in a more even handed way
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Post by fujicolt on Aug 29, 2010 16:05:41 GMT
Hey folks - I have seen Jim teach very young kids and he has some ingenious ways to have them practicing the fundamental body movements for karate whilst playing games.
His club also has a young girl (I shall not name her without Jim's permission). Shall we say she has certain disabilities that mean she has low concentration and an inability to stay within boundaries for very long. but she tries her best and is lovely and friendly and very inquisitive.
However - thru Jim's philosophy she is a very welcome member of their club and everyone is amazingly tolerant of her interruptions. it is awesome to see - they literally just go with the flow and are immensely supportive to her. There was a period when i visited that i was teaching all ages and this great little girl would sometimes walk out of the class - tug on my belt - and ask me a question! (not always about karate - she actually asked me 'why was my hair so grey?'). But when she does this the class - young and old - just stop and go on hold. Amazing to see - but as an Instructor - all you have to do is answer her question and tell her to rejoin the class and she does - sometimes after giving you a big smile and a hug!
At first I found it very unusual but soon became humbled and inspired by the classes uniform reaction of tolerance and patience. THEY TAUGHT ME!-
it is VERY clear they are very fond of her and she is totally accepted. When she does her stuff it did not matter one iota (VISIT8ING INSTRUCTOR - SO WHAT - LONG TERM MEMBER HERE SHE COMES FIRST) -
theY simply went into 'her needs' mode! awesome!
It was a very enlightening experience for me but just the NORM for them. I was humbled and deeply impressed.
I know that this young girl has a very safe place to go to and feel included. awesome IMHO!
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Post by jimlukelkc on Sept 3, 2010 13:37:01 GMT
She was at class again last night after being ill ( her name is Odelle by the way ) , she is prone to "fits" due to her condition and has had several lately. It was great to have her back and just writing about her now makes me smile, she is an absolute joy and we feel privileged to have her as a member.
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Post by fujicolt on Sept 6, 2010 23:35:54 GMT
Great news Jim - I did of course remember her name but wouldn't post it without your consent.
You are all an inspiration and i would respectfully suggest that the privilege was mine - to just witness how you all are with her. Respect
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Post by Paul Bedard on Oct 3, 2010 2:46:30 GMT
I have had the privilege of training to be be an instructor in a number of fields & they mainly use a method that was developed in wartime. The goal then was to train a large number of people to do specific tasks fairly well in a short period of time. The things that most of my training have in common are as follows: I hear, I forget. I see, I understand. I do, I remember. So give a quick explanation, do a demonstration & have the students doing what you showed them. Teach what they `must know`, what they `need to know` & what they `should know` first. Add the extras when they show proficiency on these three. Go from a simple to a complex, or a known, to an unknown. Critique using a sandwich effect. Give a positive, then direct what needs improvement, then finish with a positive. When addressing a group, look around the group, make sure to make them feel you are trying to reach everyone, not just the ones in front. Be loud enough for the people in back to hear you. Position yourself so that the majority can see you. When the students are doing practical, circulate, to encourage & correct. I thought that I was doing well until my grandaughter came along! She is special needs, autistic & word association means very little. Autistic people mainly work with visual memory. They might not appear to be doing so, but they pay attention to every little detail & once they can copy what they see they don`t forget it. For example, she has never put her shoes on the wrong feet, never put her shirt on backwards or inside out. So, with a person that learns like that, you don`t say to much & just be a good visual example. When they perform a task & are given praise they will perform that task the same way everytime. This is a new challenge for our family & one that my wife & I gladly accept. Just kind of changes the rules a bit on what I thought, I knew.. You know what they say `You never stop learning`. Osu Paul B
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Post by fujicolt on Oct 3, 2010 3:39:21 GMT
Some cracking info there Paul.
I have also found it very useful to study - Audio - You hear it Visual - you see it and Kineasthetic learning - you feel it physically or emotionally
- processes to help you assist individual students to progress.
we all will have a dominant process and then a second and a weaker third. the order can vary and once understood you can assess students and adjust your teaching accordingly to assist them individually.
I for example am visual, kineasthetic dominant but weaker on audio
If I see it and then can practice it - it is easier for me but i almost switch of when long audio explanations - this covers talk and written (which is a form that relays 'audio') are given.
with this in mind i introduced Blackboards (or later whiteboards) into my dojo to add the opportunity to explain via diagrams (visual) as well as demonstrating things. many have told me they have found this very useful to their learning processes. I have also placed various lines etc on the dojo floor to help people with footwork accuracy and again have had this very well received.
when studying for my Pilots Licence the Kineasthetic aspect was very important - you learn to 'feel' what the plane is doing - especially when i progressed to aerobatics. then it is essential to 'feel' what is happening and react instantly - not dissimilar to kineasthetic input when fighting. to rely on visual cues alone is simply not enough.
all of this ties in with several of your great points above and both are examples of non karate processes helping our study of karate and our teaching of it.
In regards to Autism - i worked with autistic teenagers for many years and at first i found it bewildering until i studied info about it and then the work became one of the most rewarding things i have ever done. it also gave me MASSIVE respect for the parents and families of Autistic youngsters. they can be very taxing and i have been awestruck when watching how families adjust and are so fantastic with them - pure love and devotion. I am more than sure that your granddaughter will recieve all the help she needs and make you proud of her karate development - best wishes to you all.
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Post by Paul Bedard on Oct 4, 2010 1:28:21 GMT
Thanks for the positive comments Steve. My grandaughter is presently 5yrs of age & her karate training so far consists of watching me self train & at times copying what I do. It really is quite cute but also interesting to see what she picks up through osmosis. My daughter is a single mother & had moved back to our small town when she became single again & I`m happy to say that the young one is most certainly part of our lives. Without going into to much detail, let me just say that in a very real way, she has brought our family closer together. My wife & I have been there through all the assessment process & have learned a lot, which I`m sure will continue. What I can contribute is a closeness to horses which has had a lot of success with autistic children & when she seems interested I`ll help her karate of course. My daughter trains with me from time to time & of course the young one copies more then. When the time is right they will both come to class & I`m optimistic that this will be a benefit to her development. In myself, she has been a wonderful teacher in patience. I`m sure that in understanding more about working with special needs, this will only add value to my ability as an instructor. Osu Paul B
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Post by fujicolt on Oct 4, 2010 7:02:37 GMT
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Post by Paul Bedard on Oct 5, 2010 0:02:14 GMT
Good point about the pics Steve. We have many photos, however as you suggest get more active on the filming will be a smart move. In regard to your weird & wonderful friends, I`m sure that there are a few of us that at times would fit into the `special needs` description, ` You don`t have to be crazy, but it helps`. ;D Osu Paul B
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Post by kensei on Mar 2, 2011 14:34:08 GMT
Just to revisit an old topic, I feel that our outside lives can be greatly beneficail to our lives as instructors and our abilities in other areas can also be brought to influence our teaching. As a physical therapist and Rehabilitative specialist my education has come to be used by our sport teams in Karate and has also helped me deal with individuals training with limiting issues. My training in HR has helped me in my possition as Chairman...now if only someone had taught me to over come my dyslexia and spell better!
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Post by fujicolt on Mar 2, 2011 14:41:22 GMT
I reckon James that if you can spell dyslexia you are over it
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Post by kensei on Mar 2, 2011 14:54:14 GMT
LMAO, I have it tattoo'd on my butt....
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Post by fujicolt on Mar 2, 2011 18:25:45 GMT
LMAO, I have it tattoo'd on my butt.... oh dear didn't you know butt is spelt = A R S E lol!
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Post by kensei on Mar 2, 2011 19:37:00 GMT
LMAO, I have it tattoo'd on my butt.... oh dear didn't you know butt is spelt = A R S E lol! actually I have it Tattoo'd (ar)(se) ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Post by fujicolt on Mar 5, 2011 1:41:02 GMT
well garage, whilst I am sure that what your saying was totally logical I personally am not clear as to what you were advising us of = dummo here (that would be me) just doesn't get it.
Sorry mate but what are you telling us - that teaching an individual is different than teaching a group and this is something you have discovered that assists you to teach karate?
i am genuinely unsure of what you are saying but am sure that it is no doubt useful information if you could kindly clarify it a little please!
ta
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Post by fujicolt on Mar 6, 2011 12:45:17 GMT
I gotcha now!
aye, there are many ways to skin a cat - as they say!
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